ronmarsden Posted 21 June , 2008 Author Share Posted 21 June , 2008 Thought I would sneek in a pre-war Territorial battalion,cant make out any title numbers but that monument on top of the hill might be a clue to the location. They seen to be drinking pints of porter or stout, could the guy in a slouch hat be a Boer war veteran? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthergw Posted 21 June , 2008 Share Posted 21 June , 2008 Argylls? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 22 June , 2008 Share Posted 22 June , 2008 Ron, I'm wondering if it is an observatory on the hill, and yes it is very likely to be a dark ale or porter in the pint glasses. I don't think it is the 7th as I think they had the Thain of Fife on the collar up to the war, but I might be wrong. Aye Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Jock Posted 22 June , 2008 Share Posted 22 June , 2008 The hut at the back has vents at the top. Could it be a 'dry bog' on ranges somewhere? there seems to be a bell tent behind it. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dycer Posted 22 June , 2008 Share Posted 22 June , 2008 Ron, Re Slouch Hats. Check Form Member,John Duncan's Web-Site "Newbattle at War" and check the Section for the 8th Royal Scots. You'll see photos of Slouch Hats being worn and I can confirm My Uncle was not a South African veteran George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonka Posted 26 June , 2008 Share Posted 26 June , 2008 Hi all This is a pic of Pte Smith Easton 4/5th Black Watch. Does anyone think this is the same man 2nd row far left on the first photo of this topic ? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 27 June , 2008 Share Posted 27 June , 2008 Tonka, That is a very good likeness and I would say a good possibility. The name Smith Easton is familiar to me; was he originally 5th (Angus & Dundee) Bn, The Black Watch? Aye Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonka Posted 27 June , 2008 Share Posted 27 June , 2008 Tom I think he was originally in the 4th reserve batallion and went to war 1916-18. I will try and post his MIC when i get home. Tonka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonka Posted 27 June , 2008 Share Posted 27 June , 2008 Can't upload his MIC but his certificate of employment during the war states he was in the 4th Reserve battalion. Although he received the MM, there is no mention of it on his MIC ? Tonka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronmarsden Posted 27 June , 2008 Author Share Posted 27 June , 2008 This one is an official war photo with a good shot of the goatskin jackets no Battalion number or date? Ron. And the next one moves farther down the line,note the small stature of the men. Ron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthergw Posted 27 June , 2008 Share Posted 27 June , 2008 The men are not short, the other two are giants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 27 June , 2008 Share Posted 27 June , 2008 Ron, Definitely 1st Battalion, 1918, the photo is also in Wauchope Volume I. Aye Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Watch Posted 27 June , 2008 Share Posted 27 June , 2008 Can't upload his MIC but his certificate of employment during the war states he was in the 4th Reserve battalion. Although he received the MM, there is no mention of it on his MIC ? Tonka He most likely has more than one MIC. James Fraser (see below) has 3, on of which was for his MM. Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Jock Posted 28 June , 2008 Share Posted 28 June , 2008 This one is an official war photo with a good shot of the goatskin jackets no Battalion number or date? Ron. And the next one moves farther down the line,note the small stature of the men. Ron. Hi Ron The photo is of the Roll Call at Noeux les Mines, outside the Battalion billets, April 1918. Guid things come in wee packets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 28 June , 2008 Share Posted 28 June , 2008 Take a look at the boots of the Sergeant Major the Platoon Sergeant in the last photo. TR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronmarsden Posted 28 June , 2008 Author Share Posted 28 June , 2008 The quality of this postcard is poor but there is a nice large size scouts armbadge on the man in the doorway. The guy wielding the adze is holding a can of Fray Bentos bully beef.What were the Saltaire flags used for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 29 June , 2008 Share Posted 29 June , 2008 Ron, Great photo, looks like it is outside the lines at Oudenarde Barracks in Aldershot pre-war, therefore, 1st Battalion The Black Watch. The saltire flags look like hand signalling flags. Once in the trenches, a similar flag was used as a Coy Marker. Aye Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Robertson Posted 29 June , 2008 Share Posted 29 June , 2008 I'd have to concur with Tom, it does look like Aldershot barracks 1914. regards Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 29 June , 2008 Share Posted 29 June , 2008 Tonka, 3521 Pte Smith Easton was in the 5th Black Watch, and judging by his Regimental number, enlisted between November and December 1915. As a yardstick, LCpl James May was 3515 and enlisted on 22-11-15. His second number is a result of the Territorial Force re-numbering in late 1916/early 1917. His number then becomes 241094. By the time he has finished training (at Bridge of Earn and probably Ripon), the 4th and 5th would have been made into a composite battalion 4/5th Black Watch (I won't use amalgamated as both entities still officially existed). A & B Coy were the 4th, and C & D Coys were the 5th. Hope this helps Aye Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonka Posted 30 June , 2008 Share Posted 30 June , 2008 Tom Thanks very much for that. I'm getting a far clearer picture now. Neil Thanks also. I will check the national archives for multiple MIC's Regards Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronmarsden Posted 30 June , 2008 Author Share Posted 30 June , 2008 This poscard sent to Mackie Balgonie Rd Markinch Fifeshire. There is a feint postmark of 1915. Printed by the Barry camp photographer Dundee St Carnoustie. Ron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronmarsden Posted 2 July , 2008 Author Share Posted 2 July , 2008 Here we have an original water colour painted on a plain postcard,can anyone translate the writing on the reverse? Ron Here is the back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 2 July , 2008 Share Posted 2 July , 2008 The PC says: A Scottish elite unit. The Black Watch regiment was virtually wiped out at Neuville on 9.5.15. It is said to have lost 800 dead, not to mention the wounded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronmarsden Posted 2 July , 2008 Author Share Posted 2 July , 2008 Thank you so much Mick,that inscription has been bugging me for ages. Ron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronmarsden Posted 5 July , 2008 Author Share Posted 5 July , 2008 Trying out a new scanner the back of this card reads 1st BW 1st Bde 1st Div France. Ron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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